WAR NOT IMMINENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1939, Page 3

WAR NOT IMMINENT

FRENCH GENERAL’S [PER PBESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, February 26. Explaining his optimism by saying that -if war wery imminent he would not h"vc been allowed to go so far away from his country, a distinguished French officer, General R. A. Voruz, who arrive;! nt Auckland by the Matnroa on Saturday to spend a holiday in New Zealand, said he had no imim.w’te fears whatsoever that the world was on the verge of a. serious v ; r. Although retired. General Voruz

■•/ he was still liable and ready for w rvi-. e. and had he Ihought Fiance was on the brink of war lie. would .never have thought of putting himself at the otiter end of the world for several years.

To 1936, when he retired. General Voruz was military, attache 'at the French Embassy in London. During the Great War tie saw all of liis active; service in French sectors. Speaking' oi' the international situation, he said: that unless some rulers became mad there would be no war. Its results were 100 clearly known and the lack oi' a.solution by such means was too obvious. He was certain (hat. the peoples of Europe did. mu want war. | Last year he had been on the Fc< nch-Ha.lian border during the major crisis, and, written in chalk in 'largo letters on (lie Italian side, were the words, “France, do not be afraid. We do not want to light you.” _ This message was, of course, from civilians, am! if this. /.•>■.■ ;"ii of the country’s j.oiml '.i' ll war their rul,>s ma. -., is. >•••:.• eareful of their action':. Recent biu'der troubles in North .Africa luawemi France and Italy Gen-ii-ul Voruz dismissed with a. laugh. They wore no. very significant, he ■•aid. !:■':)■ h things were always oc- - ail ing, a-..', were only .given promin--11. m. c when ■•< !■>t i-ms became strained ' eh;-, whore.